- Area: 365 Sq Km (141 Sq Miles)
- On the Mediterranean Sea
- 10km (6 mile) by 41km (25 mile) strip
- A narrow enclave in the Middle East | Between Egypt and Israel
- Surrounded by Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea | Coastline – 40 Km
- Land border with Egypt – 13 Km | Border with Israel – 59 Km | Total – 72 Kms
- Israeli blockade – land, sea, air – since 2007
- Maritime traffic closed – since Jan 3, 2009
- Israel and Egypt – control travel outside/inside the Gaza Strip
- Population – 2.3 million
- Population density – 5,500 people living per Sq Km (14,245 people per Sq Mile)
- Religion – Muslims 98 to 99% (predominantly Sunni) | Christians & others – <2.0%,
- Median age – 18 years | Male – 17.7 years| Female – 18.4 years
- Under 24 years of age – 65% of Gaza Strip’s population
- Under 15 years – 40% | 15-64 years – 57% | 65+ – 3%
- Life expectancy at birth – 75.66 years
- Birth rate – 27.2 births/1,000 population (2023 estimates)
- Total fertility rate – 3.34 children born/woman (2023 estimate)
- 1 million children (UNICEF)
- 1.4 million – registered as Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)
- Unemployment – 45%
- 95% population – with no access to clean water (UNRWA)
- 80% population – looks for international aid to meet basic needs (The World Bank)
- Overall economic loss due to Israel blockade – USD16.8 Billion (UN Estimates)
- Till 1967 – Under Egypt’s control
- Post 1967 |Six-day war | Under Israel’s control
- Hamas base – wide social and political support
- Hamas rules the strip de facto since 2007
Five Governorates
- North Gaza
- Gaza City
- Deir el-Balah
- Khan Younis
- Rafah
- Gaza City – northeastern Gaza Strip – largest population base